Major cities of Korea in the Middle Ages had some other names. For example, Pyongyang had such names as Ryugyong, Wanggomsong and Jangan in addition to Sogyong, and Kaesong was called Hwangdo, Songak and Songdo besides Kaegyong.
Ryugyong, one of the other names of Pyongyang, means the capital with many willow trees. And Hwangdo of Kaesong signifies the capital of the emperor, which the first king of Koryo (918–1392) named as he founded the first unified state in Korean history by succeeding the powerful state of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668) and assumed the title of emperor. And its other names Songak and Songdo are derived from Mt Songak noted for pine trees. Besides, Uiju in North Phyongan Province also had several other names of which Ryongman was most commonly used.
Pyongyang, Kaesong and Uiju were the three major commercial cities of Korea in the late Middle Ages, and the large traders of Pyongyang were called Ryusang (traders of Ryugyong), those of Kaesong, Songsang (traders of Songdo), and those of Uiju, Mansang (traders of Ryongman).
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